Catholic school students say they’re excelling in and out of the classroom, thanks to the recent number of after-school programs offered to them by the Archdiocese of New York.

Chris Valerio, 17, says the programs offer students an escape from the serious problems of everyday life. The Cardinal Hayes High School senior added that the extracurricular activities also allow students to enjoy the company of their friends.

The programs are not just beneficial from a social aspect, but students also attribute their academic success to extracurricular activities.

Nathalie Cortes, 15, shares a similar experience to Chris’. At the Academy of Mount St. Ursula in Bedford Park, Nathalie says her after-school jazz music program has improved her mood, which has also helped her understand the importance of time management. Her homework still gets done and she’s developed a strategy to balance school and the other clubs she’s involved with. “Out-of-school programs make challenging classroom experiences more pleasant,” she says.

According to Rebecca Tuttle, spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of New York City, these programs help students expand their resources and gain extra knowledge and experience. “After-school programs matter because they present new ideas and options to students that may have a rather insulated life, centered around a small Bronx neighborhood. Their world enlarges and their dreams expand,” Tuttle says.

And Tuttle may be right in her assessment.

Henry Rodriguez, 15, says, “These programs really helped my knowledge evolve in other things, which helps me to contribute more in class.”

Henry is part of Lehman College’s Engaging Latino Communities for Education (ENLACE), a program that offers extra math and science classes to Latino students to help improve their grades. Henry has been a part of the program since February 2015.

The benefits also help students become more qualified and prepared for colleges and future careers.

For Catholic schools, Tuttle adds, “Students that participate in the programs have more success when they transition to high school and college as they have already have a head start in exploring their interests in a safe, nurturing, monitored environment and developing a more complete sense of self.”

Many students have other interests outside of school and programs that support their creativity and help in the process of their development. As a freshman, Chris of Cardinal Hayes High School played the guitar and drums outside of school but wanted to collaborate and learn from other students. So when Cardinal Hayes offered an after-school program for young musicians he was thrilled. Now a senior, Chris recalls that he wanted to take his creativity to new heights and share it with others.

“These music programs helped me evolve into a better student and a better person,” said Chris. “They gave me the focus I needed to be the best I can be.”

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